Saracen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Saracen

What does the name Saracen mean?

The Saracen surname is derived from the Old French word "Sarrazin," meaning "Saracen." It is thought to have been a nickname in Medieval England for someone of swarthy appearance, or for someone returned from the Crusades, before becoming a surname.

Early Origins of the Saracen family

The surname Saracen was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that county.

Early History of the Saracen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saracen research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1327, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Saracen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saracen Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Saracen has been recorded under many different variations, including Sarson, Sarsen, Saracen, Sarason, Sareson and many more.

Early Notables of the Saracen family

More information is included under the topic Early Saracen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saracen migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Saracen or a variant listed above:

Saracen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anne Saracen, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1864 1

Sources +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)